Is GM right in saying it's repaid its loan "in full"?
If you’re like me, you saw that recent ad from GM and thought, “Huh, really? That’s pretty good.”
You know the one I’m talking about. The one where Ed Whitacre, GM’s new CEO, saunters through an assembly plant, speaking about the future of the bailed-out auto maker and boasting that it’d paid back its “government loan, in full, with interest. Five years ahead of the original schedule.”
Admittedly, it nearly made me a believer again in the once-mighty, bankrupted corporation. And I don’t think I was alone. By most accounts, the ad was good, pick-yourself-up-and-dust-yourself-off PR for the embattled General Motors.
But that was before smarter people than I got a hold of the commercial, and it turns out maybe GM isn’t being totally honest.
Daniel Howes of the Detroit News – who we’d figure has a pretty good handle on this GM thing – points to some glaring discrepancies between the facts and the auto maker’s ad.
The big enchilada is simply this: the “repayment” of $4.7 billion came from taxpayer cash advanced to GM, and the federal government still owns a 61 per cent stake in the auto maker – valued at around $43 billion.
That doesn’t sound like an “in full” payback, does it?
“We are concerned that GM, under your leadership, has come dangerously close to committing fraud, and that you might have colluded with the United States Treasury to deceive the American public,” Rep. D Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) wrote to Whitacre last week, in regard to the ad’s dubious claim.
“If someone relies on your statements in the future … your false statements may expose GM to millions of dollars in damages, further reducing the value of the taxpayer-owned company.”
Political pandering aside, Howes seems to sum the issue up best:
“It all comes down to this: GM’s credibility. Saying you’ve paid back a loan, but omitting the fact that you did it with taxpayer money and that the feds still hold a controlling stake in your business, probably isn’t the wisest way to win friends, woo new customers or rebuild trust.”
How do you score all this?
If GM has paid back its government loan with taxpayer cash, is it right for the auto maker to boast so strongly of its repayment efforts, as it does in the now-controversial ad? Has General Motors misled the public?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Steve | May 6, 2021 8:11:17 AM
not true? How very sad. I was hoping that I could hire their financial controllers to help me pay off my mortgage 24 years early, fill up my pension, buy new cars for my wife & I, plus set aside 6 months emergency cash all without working more hours or selling any more of anything.
Darn GM... looks like fairy tales are STILL fairy tales.. looks like 'trickle up' economics will remain for now. :(
Posted by: Snowy River | May 6, 2021 7:43:54 PM
So sad is right , was this GM head honcho a former politian?
or just a car salesman ?
In spite of it all GM is building some beautiful vehicles now, its about time !
I hope they survive all this , as we need a domestic auto and auto company for many reasons , too many to explain here.
(**)
Posted by: Cuckhold Don | May 6, 2021 10:47:57 PM
Well- When we buy stocks it's not considered giving the company a loan(mabe it should be though)---If selling stock or shares were considered loans then mabe companies wouldn't be able to carry so much debt& if they went bust then not so many "Average" folks would lose thier life savings!
Anyways--They did pay thier loan under the current (messed up) system!
You know-If the company does well then the Goverment(IE Taxpayers) will do well to!
Cuckhold Don
Posted by: rasta | May 7, 2021 1:09:43 AM
Rasta know that whitecare is a liar, he smoking someting dubious...and me want some.
Posted by: kevin collie | May 7, 2021 1:11:20 AM
just goes to show you cant believe anything you hear, he should have said thanks to you taxpayers, we have paid back our loan
Posted by: Logan | May 7, 2021 1:26:02 AM
Fire him.
Posted by: Logan | May 7, 2021 1:28:55 AM
American taxpayers own a majority of GM, FIRE HIM.
Posted by: Kent | May 7, 2021 2:18:43 AM
While I think GM may not have paid back their loan in full I do believe they are on their way in the right direction. Take a look at the vehicles theyre building and the improved quality compared to previous years. I work on vehicles for a living and from my experience I personally will drive General Motors before anything else!
Posted by: Martin Hanzal | May 7, 2021 2:44:37 AM
Two blog posts in one day? Wow, someone was working hard this week. Great work JA S O N B U C K L A N D. Despite those gypsy curses placed on you by some wacky Indians, I think you are doing fine work. Worthy of edging out a Stanley Hudson for a Dundie Award.
Posted by: Joe Dyck | May 7, 2021 2:45:55 AM
GM still doesn't get it. They need to manufacture fuel efficient cars, or stop making them. At least Ford is manufacturing to real hybrids, and is also marketing the Fiesta in North America. I don't think North Americans still have any idea how important it is to change their energy hungry habits. It's not hard if we start now, and all pull together, but if we wait till the fuel prices go sky high to do something, our economy will collapse. The more arrogant people are about driving "Big, Macho" cars, the worse it gets. Why in the world do we need vehicles with 350 and more horsepower? Most of the time is spent in slow traffic, and even on the freeway, a large vehicle travelling at typical highway speeds only uses about 30 or 40 horsepower. What is the other 300+ horsepower for? GM should be leading the market with new products, and yes, the Chevy volt is one of them, I do hope it is a great success.
Posted by: Martin Hanzal | May 7, 2021 2:46:15 AM
PS Don't censor me this time, like you did on my brand loyalty post. Otherwise you would lose considerable credibility with you already dwindling fanbase.
Posted by: Pozi240 | May 7, 2021 7:54:55 AM
To all of those who said we need a domestic automobile manufacturer to build fuel efficient and better quality cars, hence we "need" GM to succeed, I have one word for you..... "Ford" ! Ford not only did NOT ask for government handouts, but are actually making a profit and turning out some damn fine automobiles with ever increasing fuel economy numbers to boot. I'm sorry, but I for one will never support "Government Motors" again, and this latest ad is yet another one of their deceitful games that insults the intelligence of the average taxpayer. I recently got out of 2 import vehicles (a VW Jetta and Nissan Pathfinder), and bought 2 new Fords (F150 Crew and Fusion) because they are simply the best vehicles in their respective segments and I believe in supporting a company that doesn't take our money or lie to us! You should too.
Posted by: Bob | May 7, 2021 8:09:35 AM
Whitacre is right, GM paid back the LOANS. The US government does in fact own 61% of the company and GM hasn't bought any of it back. When they do, he'll do another commercial stating GM has paid back the LOANS in full and also have bought back the shares. The US governmnet knows that GM is also doing much better than the public knows and the stocks will go through the roof when they're available. GM is now building gret cars with great fuel economy, if that's what you want. I still like the Ford Taurus though.
Posted by: norma johnson | May 7, 2021 8:34:22 AM
I THINK GM SHOULD PAY BACK THE LOAN TO THE GOVERMENT SO THEY CAN HELP OTHE COMPANY/S THAT NEED HELP. WE THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED AT NORTEL ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR PENSION/S WE DONT HAVE THE TIME TO GO AND FINE ANOTHER JOB AS MOST OF US ARE OVER 60-PLUS.
THE GOVERMENT HELPED THOSE WHO WORKED AT GM TO KEEP THEIR PENSION AND BENIFITS NOW MOST OF THEM ARE LAUGHING ABOUT HOW G M SCRWED THE GOVERMENT AND THE PEOPLE WHO PAY TAXES.
Posted by: Stella | May 7, 2021 8:41:19 AM
Sad...it's like the old saying 'robbing Peter to pay Paul', or like using one credit card to pay off another.....that's not magic, that's quicksand.....and that's nothing to boast about.
Posted by: Joe Doyle | May 7, 2021 8:44:03 AM
The so-called North American auto makers remind me of Harold Ballard, past owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the seventies and eighties. Leaf fans would come to the games no matter how bad the team was ( and most of the time they were really bad ), so Harold didn't feel the need to spend money to improve the team. Had the fans stopped attending he would have had to improve the quality of his product. Ford, GM, and Chrysler had loyal customers who would buy their product regardless of how inferior that product was. When the customers stopped coming it became time to "rediscover quality". Shouldn't you loyal customers feel like your loyalty was abused and you were taken advantage of? And ask yourself this. What have those companies done to improve their quality? They still have the same managers, the same line workers, the same machines building them, and therefore the same end product. When the word quality is used, its usually not in reference to vehicles just off the assembly line, but to talk about vehicles over five years old. How do they stand the test of time? I think we all know the answer to that, just like we know how GM paid off their debt!
Posted by: Dean | May 7, 2021 10:04:09 AM
Wow he lied? It seems people in high positions with high saleries simply have no morals any more and will do whatever it takes to increase the company value, thus making themselves even more money... and they don't care how they do it!
Posted by: bonk | May 7, 2021 5:09:49 PM
@norma......ummm, not to make light of your situation, which could be used as an offensive example of how those in charge are screwing the workers for their own benefit (all with the help of gov't). the nortel situation is a crime, and nothing less.
but please don't fall for the cover-up spin and negative stereotyping of the auto industries troubles. the workers have given up benefits, pensions, hourly wages, bargaining rights, job security so on and so forth....all in an effort to keep their industry viable. and much like your industry....the people at the top are reaping the benefits, while the general public's negative attention is pointed at the worker. you really should recognize these games, norma.
i'm a little discouraged by the lack of insight displayed by many people on these forums.
it's frightening, and quite frankly is the number one reason so many are losing their jobs in so many fields.
Posted by: johncando | May 8, 2021 2:56:59 PM
I find in GM's side if you did give the money back and the receiver has agreed to the sum, it is paid. The thing here is in Canada the Government had GM and the Union by the short ones and broke the contract to the point no increases in cost of living until 1012 and coverages for health $35.00 per member and spouse total $75.00 per month. The government wants GM to top up the pension plan too before the Retirees go to the CAW to re do The contract? This is Good but tell me the money given to the Canadian Government did not go to increase Government pensions. Show me the Money, This is the cry that all Ontario taxpayers should be chanting now. Give the old contract teeth and the Provence Legislate it back after all it was not broken by the Workers or the Company.This is not a Communist government and the debt is paid. Reinstate the contract as written before the HST.
Posted by: free ringtones | May 9, 2021 4:07:21 AM
how is that even possible with more quater and annual losses?????